Television antenna



Feb. 16, 1954 J, T, DONNELLY 2,669,405

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed Aug. l, 1949 Jos eph Tf Donnelly INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 Joseph T. Donnelly,

Ozone Park, N. Yg, assigner to Donnelly Electronics, Inc., Jamaica, N.Y., a

corporation of New York Application August 1, 1949, Serial No. 108,011

1 Claim. (Cl. 24S-3i This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements and structural refinements in tele,- visionantennae, andthe principal object of the inventionis to provide a structurallydependable connection between the signal receiving rods and theirsupporting plates.

As is well known, conventional television antennae usually consist of aset of Atubular rods, functioning as signal receivers, the same havingfree outer ends while their inner end portions are clamped between pairsof juxtaposed plates. each pair of plates being provided with groovesdefining tubular sockets for the reception of the rods. The plates, inturn, are provided with angulated extensions secured to a support, andsince antennae of this type are usually mounted out doors and aretherefore subjected to strong winds, the rod clamping plates frequentlybecome broken in the angulated portions thereof adjacent the mountingextension.

The primary feature of the invention, therefore, resides in thestructural arrangement of the plates whereby the possibility of suchbreakage is substantially minimized if not completely eliminated.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means forrestricting the extent to which the signal receiving rods may beinserted between the clamping plates, so that possible inward sliding orshifting of the rods is eliminated.

A still further feature of the invention lies in the provision of meansfor closing the outer ends of the tubular rods so as to exclude weatherfrom the interior thereof and to prevent the same from "whistling in thepresence of high Wind.

Some of the advantages of the invention lie in its simplicity ofconstruction and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention consists essentially in the construction andarrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the invention, thesame being partially broken away so as to reveal its construction;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary edge view of the subject shown in Figure l;and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the planeof the line 3 3 in Figure 1.

Like characters of reference are employed tc designate like parts in thespecification .and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention isembodied in a television antenna, designated generally by the referencecharacter lll, the saine including a pair of juxtaposed clamping platesl2, le carrying a set of outwardly divergent, signal receiving rods ortubes i6 and mounted upon a suitable support lil, as will be presentlydescribed.

This mounting is eected by providing the inner end of one of the platesl2) with an angulated extension 20 which is secured to the support I8 bya plurality of screws 22, it being noted that the plates I2, I4themselves are secured together by additional screws 24 which also serveto clamp the rods I3 in position between the plates.

The clamping plates I 2, I4 are provided with a set of conveXo-concaveribs 26, 28 which afford, in the opposing surfaces of the plates, pairsof registering grooves defining tubular sockets 30, 32 for the receptionof the inner end portions of the signal receiving rods I6, as will beclearly apparent.

The primary feature of the invention resides in the extension of thesocket forming grooves in the plate I2 so that the ribs 28 extend beyondthe angulation 34 onto the plate extension 20. so that the angulatedregion of the plate is substantially reinforced against `sending andpossible breakage when the antenna is exposed to high winds.

Another feature of the invention lies in angulating the socket forminggrooves intermediate the ends thereof, as at 36 (see Figure 1), so thatthe sockets 32 afford straight outer regions and angularly offset innerregions, as indicated at 38, the straight outer regions of the socketsbeing intended to receive the inner end portions of the rods i6 in suchmanner that the inner ends 40 of the rods abut the angulations 36 tolimit the extent to which the rods may be inserted in the sockets 32,and thereby prevent possible inward sliding or displacement of the rodsbetween the clamping plates.

Finally, another feature of the invention resides in the provision of acylindrical closure member or plug 42 in the open outer ends of the rodI6 (see Figure 2) so that the interior of the rod is protected againstWeather conditions and so that the rods are prevented from whistling instrong wind. If desired, the closure members or elements 42 may beequipped with domeshaped, enlarged heads 44 disposed exteriorly of therods to lessen wind resistance.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will beclearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure, and accordingly, furtherdescription thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

' Having described theinvention. what 'is' claimed as new is:

In a television antenna, the combination of a pair of juxtaposedclamping plates each provided with convexo-concave alignedsemi-cylindrical ribs which afford in opposing surfaces of the plates apair of registering grooves defining tubular sockets, laterallyangulated extension pro*- vided on the first of said plates forattachment thereof to a support, said extension forming a crease at thejuncture With said first plate, the ribs on the rst plate extending onsaid extension substantially perpendicular to said crease to reinforcethe latter, said grooves being angulated intermediate the ends thereofwhereby each of said sockets aords a straight outer region extending atan angle other than normal to said crease and an angularly oilset innerregion with said' offset inner regionextending normal to said crease,said straight outer regions extending divergently relative to eachother, said straight outer regions being adapted to` slidably receivesignal receiving rods with the inner ends of said rods abutting portionsof the inner regions of said sockets to limit the extent of insertion ofsaid rods into said sockets and with said rods clampingly held in theangulated portion of said grooves, and fastening elements extendingthrough said plates for securing the same together and; adapted to clampsaid rods, therebetween.

JOSEPH T. DONNELLY.

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